EUROPEAN CIVIL PROTECTION AND HUMANITARIAN AID OPERATIONS

In this section we will explore why and how to mainstream gender in the framework of Humanitarian Food Assistance programs

According to the IASC definition, gender refers to the social differences between females and males throughout the life cycle that are learned, and though deeply rooted in every culture, are changeable over time, and have wide variations both within and between cultures. “Gender,” along with class and race, determines the roles, power and resources for females and males in any culture. Historically, attention to gender relations has been driven by the need to address women’s needs and circumstances as they are typically more disadvantaged than men. Increasingly, however, the humanitarian community is recognizing the need to know more about what men and boys face in crisis situations.